Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
Josh Callinan

Southwell claims Commonwealth Games gold as Australia wins women's rugby sevens final

2022 Commonwealth Games

Newcastle's Jesse Southwell has continued a glittering start to her sporting career by claiming Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham.

Southwell played three minutes off the bench as Australia defeated Fiji 22-12 in the women's rugby sevens final at Coventry Arena on Monday (AEST).

The 17-year-old from Cameron Park, who only debuted in the senior squad a few months ago, also helped the Aussies secure the World Rugby Sevens Series title recently.

Faith Nathan scored a double while Madison Ashby and Maddison Levi also crossed the line. It was 17-0 at half-time.

Australia were beaten by Fiji in the preliminary rounds across the weekend.

New Zealand, who were defeated by Australia in the semi-final, overcame Canada (19-12) to clinch bronze.

In the men's competition, Australia fell short of the podium after going down to New Zealand (26-12) in the play-off for third.

South Africa took home the gold after accounting for Fiji (31-7).

Elsewhere on day three of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, both Aussie hockey teams recorded dominant wins.

The Kookaburras, including Norths defender Matthew Dawson, thrashed Scotland 12-0 and the Hockeyroos, including Souths striker Mariah Williams, breezed past South Africa 5-0.

Maitland-raised swimmer Abbey Harkin finished fifth in the women's 200 metre breaststroke final at Sandwell Aquatics Centre on Monday (AEST).

She stopped the clock in a time of two minutes, 24.07 seconds (2:24.07), narrowly outside her personal best (2:23.59) and less than half-a-second off the podium.

South African pair Tatjana Schoenmaker (2:21.92) and Kaylene Corbett (2:23.67) collected gold and bronze respectively. Aussie Jenna Strauch (2:23.65) collected silver. England's Molly Renshaw ended up fourth (2:24.00).

Harkin, 24, was third at both the 50m and 150m turns.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.